Bab - A Sub Deb - Page 41/77

"I do wish you would be more careful, Bab," he said with a sort of sigh.

"Careful!" I said. "Then it's not doing Things, but being found out,

that matters!"

"Careful in your conduct, Bab."

"He was a beautiful young man, father," I observed, sliping my arm

through his.

"Barbara, Barbara! Your poor mother----"

"Now look here, father" I said. "If it was mother who was interested in

him it might be troublesome. But it is only me. And I warn you, here and

now, that I expect to be thrilled at the sight of a Nice Young Man right

along. It goes up my back and out the roots of my hair."

Well, my father is a real Person, so he told me to talk sense, and gave

me twenty dollars, and agreed to say nothing about the young man to

mother, if I would root for Canada against the Adirondacks for the

summer, because of the Fishing.

Mother was waiting in the hall for me, but she held me off with both

hands.

"Not until you have bathed and changed your clothing, Barbara," she

said. "I have never had it."

She meant the whooping cough. The school will recall the epademic which

ravaged us last June, and changed us from a peaceful institution to what

sounded like a dog show.

Well, I got the same old room, not much fixed up, but they had put up

diferent curtains anyhow, thank goodness. I had been hinting all spring

for new Furnature, but my Familey does not take a hint unless it is

cloroformed first, and I found the same old stuff there.

They beleive in waiting until a girl makes her Debut before giving her

anything but the necessarys of life.

Sis was off for a week-end, but Hannah was there, and I kissed her. Not

that I'm so fond of her, but I had to kiss sombody.

"Well, Miss Barbara!" she said. "How you've grown!"

That made me rather sore, because I am not a child any longer, but they

all talk to me as if I were but six years old, and small for my age.

"I've stopped growing, Hannah," I said, with dignaty. "At least, almost.

But I see I still draw the nursery."

Hannah was opening my suitcase, and she looked up and said: "I tried to

get you the Blue room, Miss Bab. But Miss Leila said she needed it for

house Parties."